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Gene Wolfe
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The Claw of the Conciliator:Volume Two of the Book of the New Sun Paperback – 15 Mar. 1982

by Gene Wolfe (Author)
The second volume of "The Book of the New Sun". The torturer Severian continues his journey of exile to the city Thrax, carrying with him the ancient executioner's sword and the Claw of the Conciliator, a gem of extraterrestrial power and beauty which no one man is meant to possess.
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  1. Book 2 of 4
    Urth: Book of the New Sun
  2. Print length
    304 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publisher
    Orbit
  5. Publication date
    15 Mar. 1982
  6. ISBN-10
    0099274701
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0099274704
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Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Orbit
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ 15 Mar. 1982
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ New
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 304 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0099274701
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0099274704
  • Item weight ‏ : ‎ 167 g
  • Book 2 of 4 ‏ : ‎ Urth: Book of the New Sun

About the author

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Gene Wolfe

Gene Wolfe

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Gene Wolfe is winner of the World Fantasy Award for Life Achievement, and many other awards. In 2007, he was inducted into the Science Fiction Hall of Fame. He lives in Barrington, Illinois.

Photo by Cory Doctorow licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.

Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
427 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book to be a good read and appreciate its storytelling, with one customer describing it as the greatest series of fantasy books ever written.

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ReadabilityStorytelling
5 customers mention ‘Readability’5 positive0 negative

Customers find the book readable, with one describing it as an involving read.

"...If you're looking for a rich, meaningful, involving read that will soak into your consciousness then buy this series immediately." Read more

"A good kindle book." Read more

"Thoroughly enjoyed this book as I enjoyed Shadow of teh Torturer before and am now reading the third in the series. A worthy clasis of the genre." Read more

"An enjoyable book." Read more

5 customers mention ‘Storytelling’5 positive0 negative

Customers praise the storytelling in this book, with one customer describing it as the greatest series of fantasy books ever written, while another finds it wonderfully evocative.

"...If you're looking for a rich, meaningful, involving read that will soak into your consciousness then buy this series immediately." Read more

"...The story is an interesting science fantasy following the life of an apprentice torturer as he becomes a journeyman of his trade and then follows..." Read more

"A good story but quite slow in the telling. It feels a bit draw out." Read more

"...This series is a classic of SF/Fantasy (borderline between the two genres), deeply weird in storyline and with a dense and quite demanding prose..." Read more

Top reviews from United Kingdom

  • Mr. Mark Gray
    5.0 out of 5 stars One of the greatest series of fantasy books ever written.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 25 January 2015
    Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
    'The Book of the New Sun' series is a Nebula award winner and quite the most remarkable piece of fiction I've ever read. George RR Martin and Neil Gaiman both are huge fans, which should tell you everything you need to know. Frankly, some of the reviews I've read on the books of this series on Amazon have left me staggered. These books are incredible, and have a rich, almost dream-like quality to them. The use of obscure and archaic language in places will probably put off the casual or unintelligent reader, but can be wonderfully evocative.

    Books have been published discussing the deeper meanings of this series. You could fill a whole volume just discussing the lead character, Severian, motivations and actions. A torturer by profession who rises to become leader of the Commonwealth, and destined to bring the New Sun back to Urth thus saving it and dooming it's inhabitants simultaneously.

    Basically, if you're looking for a quick, easy sci fi novel to wile away a few hours, look elsewhere. If you're looking for a rich, meaningful, involving read that will soak into your consciousness then buy this series immediately.
    8 people found this helpful
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  • McC1
    4.0 out of 5 stars A good read.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 6 October 2013
    Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
    Written as a biography of the main character as he reflects on his past the language is archaic and meant to reflect the different times far in the future. The story is an interesting science fantasy following the life of an apprentice torturer as he becomes a journeyman of his trade and then follows his travels through the three volumes of the Book of the New Sun, and eventually becomes the Autarch or leader of the Urth (the far future Earth) I do not want to put spoilers here so I will not say more than that, but I have read all three volumes and will read the follow up series in the next few weeks as I have enjoyed these.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Mr. Mark A. Laborda
    3.0 out of 5 stars Three Stars
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 22 December 2014
    Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
    A good story but quite slow in the telling. It feels a bit draw out.
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  • Daniel Binda
    5.0 out of 5 stars Gene wolfe book
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 28 April 2023
    Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
    A good kindle book.
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  • Ronald Turnbull
    4.0 out of 5 stars Book 2 of a classic SF series
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 23 February 2025
    Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
    This is Book 2 of the 4-book 'Book of the New Sun' so you should read 'Shadow of the Torturer' first. This series is a classic of SF/Fantasy (borderline between the two genres), deeply weird in storyline and with a dense and quite demanding prose style. Some will find it tough going but if you like it, you'll probably like it very much.
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  • Duncan
    5.0 out of 5 stars Claw of teh Conciliator
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 20 August 2012
    Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
    Thoroughly enjoyed this book as I enjoyed Shadow of teh Torturer before and am now reading the third in the series. A worthy clasis of the genre.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Chris
    4.0 out of 5 stars challenging and tragic
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 17 July 2024
    Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
    I’m really invested in the lot of these characters, they each seem to represent exaggerated myths or archetypes that we relate to but see through.

    I’m always left wanting to know more about the world and the people.
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  • Brushman
    4.0 out of 5 stars Good read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 30 June 2019
    Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
    An enjoyable book.
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Luke Brimblecombe
    5.0 out of 5 stars I actually think this is my favourite book of all time.
    Reviewed in the United States on 25 October 2014
    Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
    I was just gobsmacked by the first book of the series - shadow of the torturer. But some of the most memorable scenes from the series were placed in part two. The absolute economy of the way this story is told and described is just stunning. I'm an author myself, and I began to see a massive influence take shape in my own style of writing after I finished this series.
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  • Sam Hart
    4.0 out of 5 stars Weirdness that knows what it's doing.
    Reviewed in Australia on 9 April 2017
    Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
    The kind of imaginative and bizarre weirdness that many aspire to but few achieve, but without the arbitrariness and red herrings of, say, "Lost"...
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  • Rob
    2.0 out of 5 stars Two Stars
    Reviewed in Australia on 6 March 2016
    Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
    Rambling and over long
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  • MB
    5.0 out of 5 stars Must read
    Reviewed in the United States on 19 April 2014
    Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
    Second time I read these books. I enjoyed them again and appreciated the fantastic world, their characteres, and the plot. A classic that you need to read if you like fantasy.
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  • agj
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great experience
    Reviewed in the United States on 7 September 2013
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    Arrived promptly, just as promised.
    The condition of the item was just as just as described. The recipient of the gift was very satisfied.
    Report